Loftus Road has seen some big games over the last few years but despite Fulham playing 19 Premiership games at Loftus Road this season, I don't think the ground has ever seen an atmosphere like the one last night as QPR took on Oldham in the Division two playoff semi final.

The build up to the game was pretty intense with most QPR and Oldham fans facing sleepless nights knowing that with the first leg drawn 1-1, the winner on the night would be going to Cardiff. We had a few drinks in the Goldhawk first to calm the nerves then headed to the ground nice and early to soak up the atmosphere.

The noise level was unbelievable five minutes before kick off as we got ready for another biggest game of the season. Ian Holloway had been forced into changes to Saturday's team and it was a tough choice for him to make.

Terrell Forbes and Tommy Williams were both dropped to the bench as the back four went back to the first choice of Kelly, Carlisle, Shittu and Gino Padula. Kevin Gallen moved on to the right wing with Andy Thomson making his first start up front since February.

The teams came out and the ovation was deafening, every Rangers players name was cheered and Oldham players were booed out of the stadium. It really was the Lion's Den that Iain Dowie had been talking about before the game.

To their credit the 2,000 Oldham fans were not here to make up the numbers and they like the Rangers fans sung non-stop throughout the game to generate the best atmosphere I have ever been a part of at a football match.

Oldham won the toss and not surprisingly chose to change ends so we attacked the Loft in the first half. This is something QPR fans hate and I'm sure Dowie would have made sure his captain changed ends to give them a slight advantage.

We started quickly though and with Loftus Road buzzing we almost took a lead inside the first minute.

Gallen wont he ball on the right and played a defence splitting pass to McLeod who was unmarked and running into the box.

A goal looked certain but Polgliacomi made a good save with his legs. McLeod should have done better though.

We were looking the better side at the start as we forced a few corners and with the crowd trying to suck the ball into the net we looked the more likely to score.

But Oldham was not here to make up the numbers and they showed why they have such a good away record with an excellent performance.

They fought back after our good start and began to have some chances of their own. Attacking towards their own fans they had a golden chance from a corner when Wayne Andrews found himself unmarked but his header hit the side netting. Like McLeod's chance he really should have done better.

Oldham were now on top and public Enemy number one Darren Sheridian almost grabbed them the lead. He did well to control the ball on the edge of the area and his curling effort went just wide of the post with Chris Day desperately diving to keep it out.

It was a tense game and the football wasn't the prettiest you could see but both sides were fighting for every ball and it was a superb advert for second division football. Kevin McLeod had another chance when his shot from the edge of the box was well saved and more corners and free kicks for us brought no joy as Oldham defended well.

Gallen was looking a threat on the right and got in some good crosses but we couldn't find the breakthrough. We should have had a penalty though when Gallen crossed and Sheridan clearly held out his arm to clear the ball. The linesmen flagged for a penalty but the unsighted referee decided it was not a penalty and gave the corner.

A few minutes later Gallen was pushed over in the box, which also looked a penalty, but the referee again said no. With half time approaching the prospect of extra time and penalties looked a real possibility, as you jus couldn't separate the two teams. Oldham finished the half slightly stronger but Furlong had a chance to take us into the break with a lead but his shot went over the bar.

At half time a goalless draw was a fair reflection of the game. We were all very nervous at half time but still quietly confidant that we could do it.

The players came back onto the field and were urging the fans to sing up and we did.

Rangers started the half well but once again Oldham fought back and had a good spell of pressure where they could have taken the lead. Joss Low hit a cracking shot from the edge of the area but it flew over the bar with Chris Day beaten. That served as a wake up call to Rangers and the fans responded again getting right behind the team as Furlong hit a shot on the turn, which was well saved again by Polgliacomi.

Holloway then made a change and it was an excellent one. Andy Thomson had worked hard all night but we needed some pace up front so Richard Pacquette replaced him. The referee then got his book out as Gallen was booked for a late tackle and Eyre was booked for a laughable dive.

The ref was having a pretty good game and was trying to play the advantage instead of stopping and starting the game. He did though make a few bad decisions one of which drove me mad. After having two players sent off a few weeks ago for blocking a free kick I was amazed to see Eyre get nothing for doing the same thing to us.

Eyre had already been booked and I think the referee used common sense to keep him on the pitch and Iain Dowie quickly took him off to avoid going down to ten men. Shame Langley wasn't given that final warning on Saturday.

Still I didn't really want to see the game ruined by a silly sending off, it's just frustrating that we get the play it by the book refs when we have players on a yellow card.

Oldham continued to push forward though and Andrews was so close to giving them the lead with a turn and shot which rolled inches wide. At this point Oldham looked the more likely to win it as Padula began to tire and was beaten a few times leaving the defence exposed.

Holloway realised this and quickly took him off giving Tommy Williams a chance to be a hero. Williams had an immediate impact charging down the left and putting in a superb cross, which the keeper fumbled, and Gallen went close to turning in the rebound. That run and cross by Williams really got Rangers going again and we had a good spell of pressure.

Pacquette then had our best chance of the half as McLeod crossed and the young player of the year hit an excellent shot, which was somehow saved on the line by Polgliacomi. You got the feeling that we were never going to score and another great Pacquette turn and shot hit the side netting as we pilled on the pressure.

Extra time looked a certainty before the breakthrough finally came. Pacquette did well to close down Polgliacomi, who hadn't been comfortable kicking due to his back injury.

The clearance went straight to Carlisle who knocked a long ball over the top. Pacquette run back away from the action to stay onside and it was all down to Paul Furlong.

Furlong held off the challenge of Fitz Hall and broke into the box before using his strength and power to fire the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Loftus Road exploded with joy and ecstasy that I have never seen or been a part of before. The place went mad as grown men had tears in their eyes and fans hugged complete strangers as the dream began to come true.

The man who was booed on the pitch against Cardiff six months ago had now got us within eight minutes of facing Cardiff again in the playoff final. What a turn around.

Furlong's goal was a replica of so many great Les Ferdinand goals over the years at Loftus Road and the great man was cheering along with the fans from his seat in the South Africa Road stand. So eight minutes to hang on and we knew this was going to be the longest eight minutes of our lives.

Oldham threw everything at us but our defence was magnificent clearing everything and keeping them out. Tensions blew over when Andrews kicked out at Stephen Kelly. It was a stupid thing to do and the ref had no option but to send him off. The Rangers players steamed in to have a pop at Andrews and to waste a bit of time but for some reason Oldham were given a free kick. I assume Kelly must have fouled Andrews to start with.

From the free kick we had our hearts in our mouths as the ball was floated in and Fitz Hall got the ball in space from eight yards out. His shot was drilled low and on target. But Chris Day dived down to his right and made one of the bets saves I've ever seen to keep us in front.

It was poetic justice for Day who had his leg broken in the last minutes of a game against Oldham last season, which saw him miss 16 months of first team action. Now here he was denying Oldham a place in the playoff final with a last minute miracle save.

The Rangers fans were in frenzy and words can't describe what the atmosphere was like at this point as we screamed for the ref to blow the whistle. When it went Loftus Road went totally mad as we celebrated like we'd won the champions league.

This was a historic night and we were loving it. I along with many other fans cried tears of joy, this was a fantastic night and I have never been part of an atmosphere like that before. It just doesn't happen at QPR and we had actually done it and were going to Cardiff.

The players were going mad running around the pitch and Tommy Williams showed off his t-shirt, which said "4 Langers" on it showing the kind of team spirit we have at this club.

Langley was on the pitch filming the crowd and the celebrations and was carried shoulder high by Marc Bircham as the fans sung there's only one Richard Langley.

Bircham and Gallen danced to the pig bag song with the other players as the team did a lap of honour getting an amazing ovation from the QPR fans.

The players were loving it and Ian Holloway got on the microphone to leave us with a chant of come on you R's. God I love that man.

We finally have a football team to be proud of and have been given one of best nights of our lives that none of us will ever forget.

Now it's off to Cardiff and you'd be mad to bet against us at the moment.

Men of the Match: Chris Day, Stephen kelly, Gino Padula, Steve Palmer, Clarke Carlisle, Danny Shittu, Marc Bircham, Kevin Gallen, Kevin McLeod, Andy Thomson, Paul Furlong, Richard Pacquette and Tommy Williams.

Players Ratings